The Illinois AD Search

[HDawgg2005]

I'm not sure if there's actually Title 9 implications - that seems like a pretty absurd result. Regardless, I'm pretty sure they've made enough changes to Huff that it's solely for volleyball and gymnastics now. I don't think they can even fit a basketball floor anymore with the current setup.

This is way down the horizon, but the next AD needs to look harder at an "Olympic" sports facility on the athletic campus. A 5,000 seat smaller venue for women's bball, wrestling, hockey, etc. It would take decades of success in women's bball for SFC to be a good place to play.

Great point! This type of multi-purpose smaller facility not only would help give a fuller feeling to those programs who have no chance filling SFC, it would also be a great venue for other events.

It would be awesome if Illinois added a varsity hockey program. I think the success of the club team, and the growth of Hockey in Illinois (Chicago), thanks the the Blackhawks, makes me feel that the University could support a team in a venue that size.

 

[svrandal]

It would be awesome if Illinois added a varsity hockey program. I think the success of the club team, and the growth of Hockey in Illinois (Chicago), thanks the the Blackhawks, makes me feel that the University could support a team in a venue that size.

Never going to happen. First, hockey is way too expensive. The insurance for players is on par with football, and the equipment is on the high side for sports too.

Second, hockey requires a lot of scholarships, which means an equal number of new scholarships for a women's sport. Penn State needed a $102 million gift to start men's and women's hockey.

Third, despite the success of the Blackhawks, hardly anyone plays hockey in downstate Illinois. A little bit in the Chicago area, but nowhere near enough to compete against the Minnesotas, Wisconsins and Michigans. You'd be fighting the established programs for the few good players in Chicago and then picking up the crumbs in the northern states, hardly a way to build a winner.

Fourth and finally, there simply isn't enough of a fan base. Believe me, I'm a huge hockey fan (NHL Center Ice subscriber), but Champaign has a lousy hockey fandom. Even in Chicago, where the Hawks have won three of the last 5 Cups, their TV ratings are about the same as a Bulls team that hasn't sniffed the finals in 20 years.

 

[HDawgg2005]

Fourth and finally, there simply isn't enough of a fan base. Believe me, I'm a huge hockey fan (NHL Center Ice subscriber), but Champaign has a lousy hockey fandom. Even in Chicago, where the Hawks have won three of the last 5 Cups, their TV ratings are about the same as a Bulls team that hasn't sniffed the finals in 20 years.

You make a lot of very good points. I guess my comment was more of a dream than an actual plan for moving forward.

That said; if you look at the growth the Hawks have made in the past 10 years in terms of fandom, it is truly amazing. I grew up in the Chicago area, never watching a hawks game. I remember when the minor league Wolves were competing with them for popularity. Now, myself and many others are interested in hockey and may actually consider themselves fans. The sports growing popularity, especially among young Chicagoans is exploding.

Is it feasible, probably not. Is it something we could hope for... maybe. That would be step 25, right now we are struggling with step 1.

 

[Fillory]

I think Cubit stays for the first year - it's late in the game for someone new to come in at this point.

I just want to have an Athletic Director already. It would be nice if any of our programs had any sort of direction. Is that so much to ask?

He'll probably run out his contract and be sent on his way. A new AD gets a bit of a freebie with the existing coaches. I would expect Groce and Cubit to be around for at least a season more after this one.

 

[Deleted member 11241]

Has anyone mentioned Northwestern AD as a possibility? Jim Phillips I think. A little birdie with connections told me he may be a real possibility. I don't know much about him but was curious what people here thought about it or if anyone has heard the same

 

[WesterveltVictoryCigar]

Has anyone mentioned Northwestern AD as a possibility? Jim Phillips I think. A little birdie with connections told me he may be a real possibility. I don't know much about him but was curious what people here thought about it or if anyone has heard the same

Well sure, he's an alum and his name has been mentioned in this thread if you search for it. But he's not leaving NW for our job.

 

[Illwinsagain]

Well sure, he's an alum and his name has been mentioned in this thread if you search for it. But he's not leaving NW for our job.

From the outside looking in, I would think that he is quite comfortable at NW. The 2 revenue sports are at historic highs (by NW standards). The question is, are they maxed out?

If he wants a challenge, I am sure he could be on the short list if that was his desire.

 

[Kramer116]

From the outside looking in, I would think that he is quite comfortable at NW. The 2 revenue sports are at historic highs (by NW standards). The question is, are they maxed out?

If he wants a challenge, I am sure he could be on the short list if that was his desire.

If he wanted to come he would shoot to the very top of the list, but I doubt it but nothing would surprise me. We are Illinois after all.

 

[WesterveltVictoryCigar]

From the outside looking in, I would think that he is quite comfortable at NW. The 2 revenue sports are at historic highs (by NW standards). The question is, are they maxed out?

If he wants a challenge, I am sure he could be on the short list if that was his desire.

He's not interested.

 

[sdillini]

If he wanted to come he would shoot to the very top of the list, but I doubt it but nothing would surprise me. We are Illinois after all.

Conventional wisdom is that at one time he would have jumped at the chance but that ship had long ago sailed. Chicago guy, comfortable at NW with young kids in the equation as well.

 

[InterimLoyalty]

Yep, just add Phillips to the long list of AD's, coaches and recruits that the UI has ridiculously misjudged and overlooked over the years. It's a long and illustrious history for sure and a complete embarrassment.

 

[Deleted member 16068]

Do we have any kind of time line on this hire?

 

[Deleted member 19448]

I'm sure it will happen in a time frame that forces the decision on basketball to be punted to next year.

 

[illinoisportsfan]

Third, despite the success of the Blackhawks, hardly anyone plays hockey in downstate Illinois. A little bit in the Chicago area, but nowhere near enough to compete against the Minnesotas, Wisconsins and Michigans. You'd be fighting the established programs for the few good players in Chicago and then picking up the crumbs in the northern states, hardly a way to build a winner.

That is completely ridiculous. Illinois produces lots of hockey talent.

Number of Illinois players on current NCAA hockey rosters (by national ranking):

#1 Quinnipiac: 1
#5 St. Cloud State: 3
#6 Michigan: 2
#7 Nebraska Omaha: 1
#8 Massachusetts Lowell: 1
#9 Harvard: 2
#10 Cornell: 2
#12 Yale: 2
#13 Notre Dame: 4
#14 Penn State: 2
#16 Rensselaer: 1
#18 Bowling Green: 2
#19 Minnesota Duluth: 1
#23 Holy Cross: 2
#25 Dartmouth: 3

Others:

Wisconsin: 7
Ohio State: 2
Michigan State: 1
Northern Michigan: 1
Colorado College: 1
Lake Superior State: 1

In addition, Illinois is #6 among US States in producing current NHL players.

Here is an article about the hockey talent coming out of Illinois:

Despite surge in talent, Illinois lacking college hockey

 

[Fillory]

That is completely ridiculous. Illinois produces lots of hockey talent.

Number of Illinois players on current NCAA hockey rosters (by national ranking):

#1 Quinnipiac: 1
#5 St. Cloud State: 3
#6 Michigan: 2
#7 Nebraska Omaha: 1
#8 Massachusetts Lowell: 1
#9 Harvard: 2
#10 Cornell: 2
#12 Yale: 2
#13 Notre Dame: 4
#14 Penn State: 2
#16 Rensselaer: 1
#18 Bowling Green: 2
#19 Minnesota Duluth: 1
#23 Holy Cross: 2
#25 Dartmouth: 3

Others:

Wisconsin: 7
Ohio State: 2
Michigan State: 1
Northern Michigan: 1
Colorado College: 1
Lake Superior State: 1

In addition, Illinois is #6 among US States in producing current NHL players.

Here is an article about the hockey talent coming out of Illinois:

Despite surge in talent, Illinois lacking college hockey

What would be the Title IX ramifications of adding a hockey program?

 

[champaignchris]

Me: "It's been 10 weeks. It just doesn't take that long to hire an athletic director."

My wife: "It does if no one wants the job."

Seriously, this has gone past the point of embarrassing right into the realm of pathetic.

I have to assume any serious candidate has wanted some assurances about job security after the new chancellor and provost are hired. I'd further assume that those doing the hiring have failed to make those assurances.

 

[HDawgg2005]

What would be the Title IX ramifications of adding a hockey program?

You would have to add a comparable woman's program with the same number of scholarships.

I am not saying, but I am just saying, woman's hockey is also becoming more popular.

I know we don't know who the next AD is, but I am sure whoever it is is reading our posts and developing plans.

 

[Joel Goodson]

What would be the Title IX ramifications of adding a hockey program?

Say 20 schollies added for the men's Hockey team. They'd have to add 20 women's schollies. Add salaries for new coaches, expenses for new teams, that's a significant drain on AD revenue. That drain won't be remotely made up by additional revenue derived from hockey and whatever women's sport(s) we added.

Title IX is the primary reason that we don't have more men's teams (e.g., soccer).

 

[ILLINIShox24]

JeffJ with some more negative tweets. Trustees still causing a rift. Two new candidates contacted this week.

No end in sight.

 

[FarewellLasagna]

Never going to happen. First, hockey is way too expensive. The insurance for players is on par with football, and the equipment is on the high side for sports too.

Second, hockey requires a lot of scholarships, which means an equal number of new scholarships for a women's sport. Penn State needed a $102 million gift to start men's and women's hockey.

Third, despite the success of the Blackhawks, hardly anyone plays hockey in downstate Illinois. A little bit in the Chicago area, but nowhere near enough to compete against the Minnesotas, Wisconsins and Michigans. You'd be fighting the established programs for the few good players in Chicago and then picking up the crumbs in the northern states, hardly a way to build a winner.

Fourth and finally, there simply isn't enough of a fan base. Believe me, I'm a huge hockey fan (NHL Center Ice subscriber), but Champaign has a lousy hockey fandom. Even in Chicago, where the Hawks have won three of the last 5 Cups, their TV ratings are about the same as a Bulls team that hasn't sniffed the finals in 20 years.

I disagree with this sentiment. Look at Arizona St, if they can recruit a D1 Roster, Illinois could. Actually, a lot of their talent is from Illinois. Regarding downstate talent, there's a decent amount in Spfld, BloNo and the UC. The St Louis area has a huge boom of hockey talent. It's already producing NHL players.

 

[Illininer]

I disagree with this sentiment. Look at Arizona St, if they can recruit a D1 Roster, Illinois could. Actually, a lot of their talent is from Illinois. Regarding downstate talent, there's a decent amount in Spfld, BloNo and the UC. The St Louis area has a huge boom of hockey talent. It's already producing NHL players.

Yup, and 3 players from STL/metro east area are expected to be drafted in the first round this year---Tkachuk, Keller and Brown. I know a goalie from Effingham was drafted by the Blues last year. A lot of "downstate" kids play for teams in STL. The Metro East has several high schools that play hockey and at least 2 colleges that play.

 

[Serious Late]

Adding a women's sport isn't the only option to getting a Varsity Hockey team. A tough decision could be made regarding an existing Men's Varsity sport. Remove 20 Men's Scholarship from a struggling program then frees up the necessary scholarships to make Hockey a varsity sport.

The bigger problem is raising the necessary money to build a Varsity Hockey arena that would qualify the Illini to establish a B1G team. If I remember, the University polled the community on the viability of such an endeavor, not sure where it netted out.

Having been to hockey games at the University of Michigan and the University of Denver recently, I would LOVE to see Illinois make a Varsity program happen. It would almost immediately become the third most popular sport on campus. Would easily become must watch TV in our household, here is hoping Delaney keeps pushing to get most B1G universities on board with the idea. I just don't see the U of I doing without outside pressure.

 

[Bomb Squad 217]

They definitely play hockey in downstate Illinois and the state produces a lot of talent. In fact, Decatur was the runner up for the USA hockey-ville thing, or whatever it was last year, to get grant money for upgrades and have an NHL game played there.

 

[Illwinsagain]

Me: "It's been 10 weeks. It just doesn't take that long to hire an athletic director."

My wife: "It does if no one wants the job."

Seriously, this has gone past the point of embarrassing right into the realm of pathetic.

I have to assume any serious candidate has wanted some assurances about job security after the new chancellor and provost are hired. I'd further assume that those doing the hiring have failed to make those assurances.

I believe it was Mackovic at the beginning of this process that said it takes 6 -9 months to hire an AD. I think that sounds like a long time.

 

[FeelYourPaign]

On the hockey points
In a poorly run athletic department, with no facilities and many#1 priorities, why would anyone consider adding a hockey team? We have a swamp full of alligators to drain and you're talking about the nice flowers that we'll plant along the sidewalk